Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard chose to express hope rather than anger in
response to an interview with his former handler Rafi Eitan, who revealed
for the first time that he incriminated Pollard under orders from then-prime
minister and current President Shimon Peres.

Eitan told Yediot Aharonot in an interview published Friday that he gave the
Americans information he knew would be used against Pollard. He said he had
no choice other than to abide by government decisions.

“When I testified, I felt a myriad of emotions,” Eitan said. “I had a deep
feeling that I should not talk to the Americans about the episode, because
they certainly did not want what was best for Pollard. But on the other
hand, I am a disciplined soldier. I have never acted against the government’s
orders, even when I thought we should be acting differently.”

The Campaign for Pollard’s Freedom responded by expressing shock that Israel
became what they said was the first country in the world to actively
incriminate its own agent.

But the campaign refused to criticize Peres. “Neither we, nor Jonathan want
to dwell on the past,” the campaign said. “What matters is that the
president is currently in the best possible position to end this unfortunate
tragedy.”

Pollard will begin serving the 28th year of his life sentence on November
21.

Peres and Pollard have issued formal clemency requests to US President
Barack Obama, but he has never responded.

US presidents usually grant pardons and commute sentences during the
American holiday season that begins with Thanksgiving on November 22.